Embrace of the Incubus
What has gone before?
The Rage of
Augustus
Augustus Thorne is a Cambion, an Incubus/human hybrid cursed
with a hunger he can barely control.
All he has ever wanted is to be able to lead a normal life: To
meet someone, fall in love, settle down, have children. Sadly, the simple pleasures
that everyone takes for granted are denied him, because of what he is.
Fated to feed from humans, plagued by desires that threaten
to turn him into a monster, he has channeled his self-loathing into a quest for
revenge. For over two hundred years, Augustus has hunted and executed every
demon he can find. And he has done his job well, for he is both despised and
feared within the demonic community.
However, there is one Incubus in particular Augustus has always
yearned to meet: The one responsible for attacking his mother in the first
place! The one responsible for the years of anguish and suffering that have followed!
His own hated father–Fanon!
For centuries, his father has managed to elude him…until
now! Fanon has grown careless, arrogant. His blatant disregard for moderation
has allowed Augustus to track him to a suburb of Los Angeles where a
disproportionate number of women–all fitting a similar profile–have died in
recent weeks.
Hoping to spring a trap, Augustus travels to that location
and lies in wait.
However, other players have a stake in this deadly game.
Fanon’s carelessness has brought his actions to the
attention of the demon governing body, the Chapter. Shocked that Fanon is
unashamedly disregarding one of their strongest taboos–that of concealing any
hint of their presence from the humans they live amongst–they dispatch members
of the Forge, their warrior elite, to eliminate him.
Not realizing this, Augustus springs his trap, only to
discover that he has stumbled upon the assassination squad at work. During the
battle that follows, Fanon arrives to witness the devastating prowess of his
hybrid son.
Horrified, Fanon flees the scene, beginning a chase that
leads Augustus across a number of major European cities. During that Pursuit, Augustus
not only inches ever closer to his loathsome father, but he also unearths some
shocking discoveries!
It would appear his mother’s misery was not a simple case of
sheer bad luck, or of being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Incredibly,
Augustus uncovers hints and references to indicate his birth may have been
planned!
Delving into those secrets, Augustus discovers a whole
different world, hidden in plain sight! One that not only makes him as much of
a target as his father, but a source of hope to many others too! And it is
these ones in particular who astonish him, for they are from among the
Demondim! And they live by a strict code of honor that strongly appeals to his
own rigidly enforced guiding ethics.
Amazingly–while all this is happening around him–he also meets
an incredible woman, Colleen Wolfe, and falls in love!
With so many things to consider, Augustus has to reassess
his life. While trying to balance his new priorities, he unwisely agrees to a
truce with his enemies. Some do indeed act with integrity. However, others–and
especially the demon king–make plans to answer the threat they feel his
presence represents.
And all the time, behind the scenes, the diabolical
influence of Fanon continues to foment disaster.
The story ended in an abandoned warehouse in London, the
venue of a rave. Thinking he is going there for an evening out with a human
woman, the first person he has ever allowed himself to fall in love with,
Augustus is taken by surprise. Almost too late, he discovers just how deeply
both his father’s and the demon king’s treachery runs, when both make a play to
promote their own agendas.
The climax occurs when the warehouse is blasted apart by the
arcane energies unleashed during a fight to the death between Augustus, Fanon,
Agamemnon–supreme warrior of the Forge–and a crack team of his Forge assassins.
Who lived?
Who died?
We found out in…Kiss of the Succubus.
Kiss of the
Succubus
Having survived the double-cross planned by his own
spawn-father and the demon king himself, Augustus is trying to come to terms
with his lot in life.
Both Fanon and Agamemnon lay dead, but Augustus feels
hopelessly lost! Besides his mother, he has only ever loved one woman in his
long and lonely life. He has only ever lowered his guard…once…just once, and
allowed someone to get close.
And now Colleen is gone. Driven away by the very real
dangers his lifestyle embodies.
Alone again, feeling bitter and resentful, Augustus
eventually forces himself out of his self-imposed hiatus to put the new knowledge
he has learned to use.
And not before time!
An insidious new threat has emerged. One that exposes
humanity to a danger the likes of which they have never faced before! One that would
see them reduced to the status of cattle in a worldwide meat-market.
However, it would appear fate is at last smiling upon
Augustus.
On his very first undertaking back into his violent life, he
stumbles upon a mysterious woman, Marissa. She is a true force to be reckoned
with! Augustus watches, amazed, as she dispatches a number of demons with
consummate ease. And no wonder! For Marissa appears to be the only other
Cambion he has ever encountered!
Quickly joining forces, they set out to make Samael pay for
his deviousness!
However, all is not as it first appears.
This so-called Cambion is, in fact, a genetically altered
Incubus. An impostor dispatched by Samael to breach Augustus Thorne’s defenses
and defeat him in a way no other can! Not by strength, but by guile!
Unaware of this, Augustus begins to sow the seeds of a new
relationship, whilst delving into the latest secrets he has unearthed. He hopes
this knowledge will help expose further details about his origins as well as
assist him in neutralizing the emerging threat. However, the deeper Augustus digs,
the more startling are the facts he uncovers.
It would appear Samael’s schemes were centuries in the
making. When first proposed, those plans raised concerns as to the wisdom of his
choices, and doubts as to his fitness to rule. A secret faction arose within
Demondim to oppose him. Through that faction, the seeds were sown for a
remarkable savior. A Despoiler,
capable of utilizing the power of the three bloodlines to overthrow the fallen
angel and his Paladin!
The deeper Augustus delves, the more a disquieting
realization becomes apparent. He
might be this foretold Despoiler, for circumstances indicate a great deal of
planning and forethought went into the selection of all those involved in his spawning,
both human and demonic!
Keeping this information to himself, Augustus seeks to
unearth the specifics that will help him understand his place in things. But in
doing so, he is maneuvered into a position whereby he must work ever more
intimately with Marissa. It is only inevitable they draw closer.
This is exactly what Marissa craves, for behind the scenes, her
accomplices have been searching for the descendents of a very particular
bloodline. One from whom they hope to extract a rare poison to use in their
machinations against Augustus.
Events progress in tandem.
A chance meeting unexpectedly rekindles the spark of love
between Augustus and Colleen Wolfe. They are overjoyed by this reunion, and
this spurs Augustus to learn more about his heritage and the incredible power
this will grant him.
Sure enough, when his senses are enhanced even further, Augustus
becomes aware of a third layer of reality in which additional revelations have
been secreted away. Delving into them, he learns of the existence of ancient
artifacts he will need to successfully fulfill prophecy. Amazingly, it is
within this realm that Augustus also discovers the presence of the
Ar-neter–Elemental Guardians–created at the dawn of time. They not only
safeguard the fragile balance between the heavenly, demonic and human realms,
but also exist to prepare the way for the Despoiler’s coming.
Marissa also makes headway in her endeavors. Managing to
secure the extract she needs, she plans the perfect way of lowering the
defenses of her target. Things appear to be progressing smoothly, until the newly
returned Colleen Wolfe threatens to ruin her scheme. Unwittingly, Colleen has
made herself a target!
Meanwhile, Augustus realizes his only chance of fully understanding
his capabilities, and discovering the location of the artifacts he requires, lies
within the halls of the greatest source of Demondim law and knowledge on the
planet: the Great Library, housed at their second city, Damascus, a huge
fortress-like edifice built beneath the mountains.
Wreaking havoc, he destroys that city’s defenses, lays waste
to its defenders and obtains the information he desires. Full of the sense of victory,
he returns home with his guard lowered.
Seizing the opportunity, Marissa manages to ambush Augustus
and, using the poison, renders him helpless. Preparing to murder Augustus, she
is thwarted at the last moment by Colleen Wolfe, who lays down her life to save
him.
The story ended in bitterness and pain.
Interring Colleen beside his mother within the Tau-rus, the
living force that binds all life together, Augustus vows revenge. His power is
growing daily, and he teeters on the edge of fully realizing his potential. Woe
betides any who fall into his clutches!
Samael walks the halls of his ravaged city. The death toll
is alarming, as was the ease with which the defenses were overcome. Appalled,
he is forced to raise his greatest paradox–the Paladin–from slumber. For while
the Paladin represents a lethal threat to Samael’s schemes, this true Cambion
is the only force in existence capable of standing against Augustus!
Thus, the scene is set for the finale.
Will the Paladin succeed where all others have failed?
Will Samael secure his position as undisputed ruler for all
eternity?
Will others embroiled in this nightmare see the culmination
of their desires?
Or will Augustus succeed in achieving his destiny, and at last, end his relentless campaign of revenge
and hate?
Only time will tell, as we enter the final chapter of the
story in:
The Cambion Journals–Embrace of the Incubus.
Don't miss out on this epic conclusion
